Dallas memorial: Barack Obama calls for unity

US president calls for unity and understanding in emotional ceremony for five police officers shot dead in Texas.

13 Jul 2016 05:21 GMT

US President Barack Obama has implored Americans of all races to show more unity and understanding as he addressed an emotional memorial ceremony for five police officers shot dead in Dallas last week.

"I know that Americans are struggling right now with what we've witnessed over the past week," Obama said on Tuesday

"I'm here to say we must reject such despair. I'm here to insist that we are not as divided as we seem."

Obama's speech included a frank admission that his own efforts to tackle violence, guns and racism had come up short.

"I have spoken at too many memorials during the course of this presidency," he said with uncommon candour. "I've seen how a spirit of unity born of tragedy can gradually dissipate."

"I've seen how inadequate words can be in bringing about lasting change. I've seen how inadequate my own words have been."

Al Jazeera’s Patty Culhane, reporting from in Dallas, said that unlike Obama's previous speeches after other mass shootings, "this was not a president hoping to comfort people, just the opposite.

"This was an impatient president," Culhane said.

Obama said it was time for the country to start having "uncomfortable conversations about race", as well as inequality and gun control, Culhane added.

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Dallas residents unite in wake of US police shootings

Micah Johnson, 25, a US military veteran, was killed on July 7 by police using an explosive device after he shot dead five police officer in the streets of Dallas following a demonstration over police killings of African-Americans. Nine other officers and two civilians were wounded by Johnson.